Shoring clamp



March 6, 1956 v, HORST 2,737,3 3

SHORING CLAMP Filed Jan. 25, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

Paul V. Horst ATTORNEY 2,737,363 1C Patented Mar. '6, 1956 SHORING CLAMP Paul V. Horst, Adams County, Colo.

Application January 25, 1950, Serial No. 140,529

2 Claims. (Cl. 248354) This invention relates to a clamp useful in construction Work and more particularly to a shoring clamp adapted to hold shoring timbers in adjusted position.

In various types of construction work and principally in concrete construction it is often necessary to support forms or building structure from below until the permanent support is placed or until the permanent support attains full strength. It has been relatively common practice in such instances to use upright timber supports which were originally cut to the desired length and then placed in position. However since there was a considerable possibility for inaccuracy in the length of the timbers, it was usually necessary in this type of shoring to use wedges, spacers and the like to adjust the form or building structure being supported to the correct height.

To eliminate the need for individually sized timbers, previous inventors have provided shore clamps which are adapted to hold at least two shoring timbers in adjusted position. When such a clamp is used, the upper and lower timbers are moved lengthwise with respect to each other to adjust the combined total length of the timbers, and when the proper length is secured, the clamps are engaged with the timbers to hold them in their adjusted position. Previous clamps of this type were of rigid construction having tension members of fixed length, and accordingly it was necessary when arranging the separate timbers to slip the ends of each of the timbers through the clamps. Where the timbers were relatively long or when the shoring was being erected in confined spaces, such positioning of the timbers within the clamp was cumbersome and time consuming.

The present invention has been devised to utilize the advantages of the previous types of shore clamps while eliminating the disadvantages thereof by providing improved means for engaging or disengaging the shoring clamps with the timbers. To accomplish such purpose the present inventor has devised a clamp which satisfies, among others, the following objectives:

To provide a shoring clamp for use in construction which is readily and easily engaged with the shoring timbers.

To provide a shoring clamp having a pivoted tension member which may be disengaged to facilitate the placement of the shoring clamp.

To provide a shoring clamp having a generally U- shaped frame, the opposed parallel members of which provide support for bearing plates having timber gripping faces.

To provide a clamp of the foregoing type in which the open ends of the U-shaped frame are held in rigid position by means of a removable tension member.

To provide a shoring clamp of the foregoing type in which a tension member is rotatably mounted on one of the said parallel supports and selectively engageable with the other parallel support.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the appended description and drawings in which:

Fig. l is an elevation showing in general detail the use of the clamp of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the general features of this invention; and

Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing further features of the shoring clamp of this invention.

Briefly stated the present invention provides a shoring clamp having a frame portion providing opposed parallel support members and an open side. In the embodiment shown the frame portion is of substantially U-shape and of size sufficient to enclose three sides of a pair of 4 x 4's in contiguous position. Bearing plates are rotatably supported on the opposed parallel portions so that the serrated faces thereof may be placed in engagement with outwardly disposed faces of the timbers that are to be held in adjusted position by the clamp. A tension member adapted for selective engagement with the opposed parallel members is provided to complete a rigid structure which completely surrounds the timbers being clamped together. It is intended that the tension member will not be engaged with both of the parallel members until the clamp has been placed on the timber. Accordingly the placement of the clamp will be greatly facilitated when compared with prior types of shoring clamps,

The detailed features of a separate form of shoring clamp embodying the present invention will be more readily understood with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 where it is shown that the shoring clamp 11 is made up of a U-shaped frame member 12 comprising parallel leg portions 13 joined together by means of an elongated connecting portion 14. In the embodiment shown, the parallel leg portions 13 and connecting portion 14 are formed unitarily of a single piece of rod of circular cross section. While it is not necessary that these portions be formed in this manner, this particular structure is economical and highly satisfactory.

Clamping jaws 16 having backwardly extending flanges 17 thereon are provided for free pivotal motion about the parallel leg portions 13. Where the parallel leg portions 13 are of round cross section, such pivotal movement is aifected by the simple expedient of providing cylindrical openings 18 transversely through the flanges 17. When such openings are provided, the parallel leg portions 13 are passed directly through the openings 18 in the flanges 17 and the clamping jaws 16 are then secured in position by means of outwardly extending raised portions 19 formed on the parallel leg portions 13. Preferably these raised portions 19 are formed on the leg portions or lug means 13 by an upsetting punch press operation. When the clamping jaws 16 are secured on the leg portions 13 the ends of the leg portions 13 extend beyond the outer flanges 17 of the clamping jaw 16 a distance suflicient to provide support for a movable tension member 21. The inwardly disposed face 2!) of the clamping jaws 16 is provided with a plurality of serrations 25 providing a roughened surface adapted to provide an increased gripping force when the clamp 11 is engaged with. the faces of the timbers being held together.

In the embodiment shown the tension member 21 is, a strap member provided with openings 22 and 23 near the ends thereof. The openings 22 and 23 are of a diame ter sufiicient to permit the passage of the members 13 through the said openings 22 and 23. While the tension member 21 may be provided entirely separate from the frame 12 and associated clamping jaws 16, it is preferable to secure at least one end of the tension member 21 to the assembly so that it will not be lost. To accomplish this purpose a further raised portion or lug means 19 is formed on one of the parallel members 13 to secure one end of the tension member 21 on such member 13..

Since the other end is left free, the tension member 21,

can :be disengaged from the opposite member 13 for movement to an out-of-wayposition. When it is desired to place or remove the clamp the movable features of tension member 21 greatly facilitate the usefulness of the clamp 11.

When making up shoring members it is only necessary to slip the clamp 11 over the lower timber 27 and the upper timber 28 in their side by side relation instead of inserting the ends of the timbers through the clamp in opposite directions. In fact the clamp may be engaged with the timbers 27-23 when they are in a relatively telescoped position, and subsequently the effective length of ,the shorting member 29 composed of the two timbers 2728 may be increased to the desired length by the simple expedient of disengaging one bearing plate 16 from the face of the timber 28 and elevating this timber until it is in the desired position when the clamp may again be engaged to hold the timbers in their adjusted position.

As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 a hole 24 is provided through the face 2110f the clamping jaw 16 so that nails 26 may be driven through the jaw 16 and into the timbers substantially as shown in Fig. 1, to hold the clamps in desired position before a load is applied. However, the nails 26 are not driven into tight engagement with the bearing plate 16 so they may be readily removed. When pulling the nails 26 the parallel leg portion 13 provides a convenient fulcrum against which a conventional claw hammer may be engaged.

When it is desired to remove the shoring members 29, the lower clamping jaw 16 of the clamp 11 may be bumped upwardly to thereby remove the tension from the tension members 14 and 21. When the tension forces are removed, the strap 21 may be readily disengaged and the clamp may then be removed. When the clamps 11 are removed, the timbers 27 and 28 may be taken down and stored for subsequent use. Since the effective length of the shoring members 29 can be varied by telescoping or extending the timbers 27-28, the same timbers can be reused a great number of times to efiect a considerable saving in material and construction cost. This saving in the cost of shoring will materially reduce the cost of many types of construction. In concerete construction in particular the cost of forms is a considerable portion of the cost of the construction. The savings in time and material possible when the shoring clamp of this invention is used will materially reduce the cost of this particular type of construction. In other forms of construction this clamp will have further advantages which will be readily apparent.

Though one specific embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious that the present invention is adaptable to various modifications and changes. All such modifications and changes as are within the scope of the hereunto appended claims are deemed to be a part of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp for securing a pair of timbers in face-to face relation and transmitting a longitudinal force from one timber to the other, said clamp comprising an integral U-shaped frame having parallel ieg portions joined by an integral connecting portion which prevents separation of the leg portions, one leg portion adapted to lie adjacent the outer face of one timber and the other leg portion adapted to lie adjacent the outer face of the other timber, a clamping jaw member pivotally mounted on each leg portion of said frame and having a roughened timber engaging surface for clamping engagement with the outer face of its associated timber, lug means on one leg portion to retain its clamping jaw member against movement away from the connecting portion, a tension member pivotally connected to the other leg outwardly of its clamping jaw member and having an opening for receiving said one leg portion in its free end for positive connection to the outer end of said one leg portion, said connecting portion and tension member jointly taking the tensile strain for preventing separation of the leg portions, lug means on the .freeend of the other leg for preventing removal of its clamping jaw member and the adjacent end of said tension member therefrom, the outer end of each leg portion of said .U-shaped frame being free of lateral projections toward the other leg outwardly of its clamping jaw member that could project beyond the timber engaging surface of its associated clamping jaw member whereby the ends of the tension member may be closely positioned to the clamping jaw members on the leg portions and thereby providing an unobstructed opening between the "clamping jaw members whereby the clamp may be applied by unobstructedmovement from the side of the timbers with the leg portions and their associated clamping jaw members embracing the outer faces of the timbers, the tension member being adapted to take the stress between the outer ends of the leg portions tending to separate such outer ends.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which the clamping jaw members are provided with apertures of small dimensions passing therethrough and opening to the timber engaging surface of such clamping members for snugly receiving a nail which may be driven into the outer face of the adjacent timber for preventing slipping of the clamping jaw member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 326,514 Moross Sept. 15, 1885 901,158 Dettmann Oct. 13, 1908 1,116,073 Johnson Nov. 3, 1914 1,193,233 Brown Aug. 1, 1916 1,198,728 Keator Sept. 19, 1916 1,538,595 Schroeder May 19, 1925 1,624,051 Hansen Apr. 12, 1927 1,674,105 Gascard June 19, 1928 1,932,072 Holrnboe Oct. 24, 1933 2,005,098 Mayer June 18, 1935 

